Thus Began Your Regret (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 1
Let’s break up.
Those were the words Louisa uttered, after staring endlessly out the window.
[This is the timeline separator]In the thick fog of dawn, Edward opened the familiar front door.
The gas lamp’s wick must have nearly burned out—the light was dim. Edward sighed as he looked down the shadowy hallway and closed the door behind him.
Loosening his constricting tie, he strode down the corridor toward the servants’ quarters.
“Hey! Was my salary insufficient? I couldn’t see a thing and barely made it here!”
Though it was late, he was determined to say something today—he’d hired them precisely to avoid such inconveniences.
As he quickened his pace, Edward noticed a sliver of light spilling from beneath the drawing room door.
Someone was still working. Curious, he opened the door to confirm his suspicion.
The light pouring from the opened door was brighter than expected. Edward squinted slightly and narrowed his eyes to see who was casting the glow.
There sat his wife, Louisa Allen—someone who should have been fast asleep by now.
“Louisa?”
Hearing his voice, Louisa slowly turned her head from where she’d been staring blankly out the dark window.
Edward didn’t wait for her greeting and spoke first.
“What are you doing here at this hour?”
“I was waiting for you.”
Edward turned to check the clock hanging on the wall.
It was just past one in the morning. Frowning deeply, he let out a sigh.
“How long have you been sitting here like this?”
“I’m not sure. But not too long.”
Her voice was hoarse, as if weighted with exhaustion.
Knowing her usual habits, Edward knew she’d likely been there for hours. He pushed the door fully open and stepped inside.
Running his fingers roughly through his hair with visible irritation, he said,
“Please, I’m begging you—stop wasting your time like this.”
Edward irritably switched off the lamp hanging on the drawing room wall. Now, only a small lamp in the center of the table lit the room.
Louisa fell silent. After gazing at Edward thoughtfully for a moment, she finally voiced the same issue they’d circled around for years.
“Then at least send a brief message on nights like tonight when you’re going to be late. How can I sleep peacefully when I’m worried about you?”
“I’ve told you again and again—if anything serious had happened, of course you’d have received notice. Being late just means I’m swamped, and no message means nothing’s wrong.”
“But—”
“Besides, your staying up won’t make my work disappear or my carriage go any faster.”
Louisa parted her lips to argue back, refusing to be silenced.
Sensing yet another pointless argument about to begin—just like always—Edward quickly raised his hand to cut her off.
“Please, let’s just stop here for tonight.”
“…….”
“I already have a mountain of headaches as it is. There was an accident during tonight’s night shift.”
Louisa, looking frustrated by his interruption, asked in surprise,
“An accident?”
“Yes. There was a small explosion at the institute. I’ll need to visit the hospital tomorrow as well.”
“Good heavens! Were there casualties? Is everyone alright?”
“Thankfully, yes.”
Edward nodded, and Louisa placed a hand over her chest, exhaling deeply in relief.
“That’s a relief. I should prepare flowers to send to the hospital ward tomorrow morning. Oh—and notify the newspapers too. By tomorrow, every paper in town will surely be buzzing about it—”
“Hold on, Louisa.”
Edward cut her off. Louisa stopped speaking and looked at him.
He let out a light sigh and said,
“That’s not your concern.”
“Ed.”
“It’s my problem. You have no reason to get involved.”
“I’m part of the Allen family too. This is a major incident, and there are so many urgent things that need doing right—”
“You’re right. But I’m the president.”
“Edward!”
Louisa cried out. But Edward, looking utterly exhausted, raised his right hand to cover his eyes, silencing her.
“Please, Louisa. I’ll be incredibly busy tomorrow. I really can’t handle one more thing on my plate.”
“One more thing….”
Louisa repeated his words quietly. Seeing her fall silent, Edward turned to leave.
“I’m heading to bed. You should too. Please don’t waste your time alone like this again.”
Without hesitation, Edward turned his back on her and walked away. His hurried steps made it clear he was already preoccupied with tomorrow’s burdens, and Louisa watched his retreating figure in silence.
Click.
The sound of the latch settling back into place echoed through the room.
Louisa stood there, staring blankly at the drawing room door he’d just closed behind him.
[This is the timeline separator]The next morning.
The delivered morning paper featured a massive article about the explosion at Allen Enterprises.
“Oh my, ma’am—isn’t this your master’s research institute?”
Rachel, the young servant who’d brought in the mail, asked.
Even at her curious age, Rachel could sense the gravity of the situation. Seeing her flustered and glancing nervously, Louisa took the newspaper she offered and opened it.
She didn’t even need to search for the article—a large illustration of the Allen Research Institute engulfed in flames dominated the front page.
Louisa sighed. She doubted she could properly read any other articles in the paper.
Folding the newspaper in half, she handed it back to Rachel and said,
“There was apparently an accident at the institute. One researcher was seriously injured—I wonder how it’ll all turn out….”
Hearing this, Mrs. Johnson, who was setting the table, offered a word of comfort.
“You must be very worried.”
“It’s always troubling whenever the Allen name gets dragged into something. But I’m sure it’ll all work out soon enough.”
“Yes. As always, it’ll pass. After all, Master is an exceptionally capable man.”
Mrs. Johnson stepped back after finishing the table setting.
“…An exceptionally capable man.”
Out of habit, Louisa picked up her utensils and began eating.
She couldn’t argue with that. Edward Allen truly was remarkable.
After all, he was the first person to successfully refine mana crystals.
Refined mana crystals were far more convenient and efficient than any conventional fuel. With that convenience came public attention, wealth, and ever-growing fame.
There was nothing wrong with any of that.
“It’s just sad that even our relationship has changed.”
Louisa stared blankly at the tip of the knife in her hand.
She missed the days when they were the young couple from Greenberg—so different from now, when they had nothing yet held each other close through everything.
“What even defines us now…?”
They could hardly be called husband and wife anymore when they couldn’t even speak freely to each other.
Then what should they be called?
Housemates?
Louisa pondered it alone, then slowly resumed moving her hand.
Even that title felt beyond her.
Judging from Edward’s school stories, he’d always been the type to get along well with roommates—even if he found them annoying.
Then what was she to him?
She continued eating, lost in thought for a while. But deep down, she already knew the answer.
To him, Louisa Allen was probably nothing more than a heavy burden he’d carried his entire life.
[This is the timeline separator]“With his arm gone, returning to work at the institute will be impossible.”
Jeffrey Curtis, head of the Allen Research Institute and Edward’s subordinate, spoke.
Edward pulled a cigar case from his coat and handed it to him.
“Well… Even if research is out of the question, there must be something else he can do.”
The two men stood outside the hospital, lighting their cigars.
Jeffrey exhaled a long plume of smoke like a sigh and spoke.
“Have you read the article?”
At the edge of Jeffrey’s gaze stood a group of men glancing sideways at them, newspapers in hand.
Their eyes met the gossiping men’s.
Hmph. Jeffrey snorted derisively in their direction and continued.
“They really went all out this time.”
“They certainly did.”
“No doubt Westwood had a hand in it.”
“Probably.”
“Will those who know the truth really stand by and do nothing?”
Jeffrey asked incredulously. Edward exhaled a deep plume of smoke and replied,
“If I don’t stand by—if I react now—do I even have the luxury to, with my key personnel already reduced?”
“What about Mrs. Allen?”
“Louisa?”
Edward’s voice sharpened irritably at the sudden mention of his wife’s name.
“Don’t misunderstand. Isn’t it precisely because she’s not the type to stay idle in a situation like this that you brought her up?”
Yet Edward still looked displeased. He roughly crushed his cigar underfoot and said,
“…No matter how much those bastards chatter, I’m the only one who can produce results.”
“Yes. I think so too. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t accept Mrs. Allen’s help.”
“That still doesn’t give me a reason to hand tasks over to Louisa.”
Edward abruptly snatched the cigar from Jeffrey’s mouth.
Ignoring his subordinate’s bewildered expression, he tossed the cigar to the ground and stomped it out, then said,
“We just need to go explain things properly to the investors. Let’s go.”
“Wait, hold on! Sir!”
Jeffrey called out urgently.
Edward, having said his piece, strode off without stopping.
Jeffrey let out a hollow laugh. Watching his boss walk away with a dazed expression, he soon punched the air in frustration and muttered a curse under his breath.
I’m the one who prepared all that explanation, you damn impossible boss!
When male lead is the homewrecker
“I know she doesn’t love him.”
I’ve read the novel below twice already. Girls, I’m highly recommending it to you!
The female lead? Not a good person.
The second male lead? Not a good person.
The male lead? Willingly plays the third party, breaking up the female and second male lead’s relationship despite all the warnings from his friends—so yeah, he’s definitely not a good person either.
Basically, nobody in this novel is simple-minded or without scheming.
The female lead starts off as the male lead’s secretary, but don’t worry—later on, she takes over the company while the male lead steps back to support her. He won’t steal her spotlight, overshadow her, or dull her shine.
I love novels where men are out here snatching wigs, tearing each other down, and going to war just to win the female lead’s affection. And this is exactly that kind of novel. Most of Hai Dai Ran’s works have this dynamic. You’ll see the male characters’ emotions being pushed to the absolute extreme.
There’s even a scene where the second male lead exposes the male lead online for being a homewrecker. The brotherhood immediately gangs up on him, dragging him through the mud. I find it compelling —it completely flips reality on its head, where usually, women are the ones fighting over a man and getting torn apart by the sisterhood.
For me, female leads in the novels I read should only struggle in their careers, not in love. But if the brainless romantics in the story are all men? I have zero complaints.
I’ve pretty much read all of Hai Dai Ran’s novels and even translated all of them—her works are just my thing. I’ll slowly upload everything here. One day, when my website is official, I hope I can invite her to join as one of the star authors.
Here’s the story synopsis:
One-line summary: She is his lifelong obsession, to the point where he was willing to be a third wheel, scorned by society, just to wedge his way into her relationship with her fiancé.
Cold-hearted and indifferent female lead + Scheming and subservient CEO male lead
Intro 1:
“I know she doesn’t love him.”
With blood trickling from his clenched fist, Rong Xiu gazed at the woman before him, his eyes clouded with anguish. Hidden in the wardrobe, he had witnessed Fan Xia – the woman he desperately loved – in an intimate embrace with her fiancé. Yet his heart still yearned for her, defying all reason.
Fan Xia, the elegant and composed assistant, carried something mysterious in her eyes whenever she looked at her fiancé, Wen Lan Sheng. Strange occurrences began to surface – secret meetings with the young Gu Jin Yi, an unexplained withdrawal of 5,000 yuan… Then suddenly, her fiancé’s sister, Wen Jing, violently attacked her.
In this matriarchal society, Rong Xiu had risen to become the chairman of a powerful healthcare conglomerate, breaking through gender prejudices. But for the first time, he willingly stepped into the shadows as the other man, disregarding his friends’ warnings to become her secret lover.
Because he had discovered the truth – Fan Xia wasn’t the pure angel everyone believed her to be. And perhaps, he was the only one capable of helping her execute her mysterious plan…
Intro 2:
Rong Xiu’s biggest regret in life was missing out on Fan Xia.
He secretly loved Fan Xia for 7 years.
Watched her go public with her boyfriend.
Watched her kiss her boyfriend at their wedding.
Until that man blissfully nestled in Fan Xia’s arms, obtaining everything he could only dream of.
The crazy jealousy stripped away his hidden secret love, layer by layer, burning like wildfire.
Fan Xia, how can I have you!
【Reading and Trigger Warning Guide】
1. Female dominant, male submissive, male pregnancy
2. Male lead schemes his way to the top, male competition
_____
Please help me, I want to bring you the best possible things.
If you find any chapter or novel with poor translation and editing quality, let me know by commenting directly under that novel or chapter. I will retranslate it as soon as possible.
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MANGA DISCUSSION
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‘I wanted to cheer her up.’
That seems nice at least he is trying the problem that he doesn’t know how !!!
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Joy Lean Cañete
What? Anther hsband sounding bastard